Infectious Disease Therapeutics Training Program

A competitive NIH-funded postdoctoral training program focused on the discovery and development of innovative therapeutics for infectious diseases.

Outstanding postdoctoral candidates are invited to apply for the Infectious Disease Therapeutics Training Program, a competitive three-year fellowship offering comprehensive training and support. The program's goal is to develop an elite cohort of independent investigators with the skills and expertise to develop new therapeutics for infectious diseases.

This goal has become increasingly critical as outbreaks of new and drug-resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria and viruses emerge around the world, and the limitations of existing therapies are thrown into sharp relief. St. Jude has a longstanding commitment to pioneering research in infectious diseases, which remain the leading cause of childhood mortality worldwide and an ongoing threat to immunocompromised patients in our clinics.

At St. Jude, you will join a community of global leaders in infectious disease research. Trainees have access to exceptional on-campus resources for drug discovery and development, as well as a rich and collaborative training environment, excellent and innovative mentorship, and unique opportunities for clinical experience and overseas training.

Program Overview

The program is flexible, allowing training to be tailored for your interests. Research is strongly multidisciplinary and is centered at the interface between the Departments of Infectious Diseases, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, and Structural Biology, with frequent opportunities for collaboration with other groups across the institution.

More Information

Other core components of the program include a focused clinical training course and overseas research through St. Jude Global. You will also receive structured training in the key skills required for a successful academic career, including grant writing, problem solving and presentations. St. Jude offers postdoctoral fellows a diverse array of professional development opportunities.

Each trainee has a dedicated Scholarship Oversight Team (SOT) composed of primary and secondary mentors. You will have the opportunity to act as a SOT member for a junior trainee during your third year of training.

Funding for the program is provided by a T32 Institutional National Research Service Award from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and by ALSAC, the fundraising organization for St. Jude.

Program Timeline

Year 1

Orientation

Select Scholarship Oversight Team (SOT)

Individual preceptor tutorials

Clinical training

Specialized training and off-campus course

Year 2

Overseas training

Specialized training and off-campus course

Scientific and grant writing course

Prepare and submit grant

Year 3

Act as SOT member for a junior trainee

Complete research

Transition to independent funding

Graduate from program

Core Departments and Teams

Success in developing new therapeutics for infectious diseases requires a multidisciplinary approach. A broad range of collaborative teams have been established at St. Jude to meet this challenge.